News round-up, 13 March 2009

There are many pressing issues which may be brought to the fore thanks to IYA2009. One of these, according to eWorldVu is the danger of space debris. Colliding satellites and abandoned junk cause real hazards in orbit around the Earth. Could IYA2009 be the golden opportunity to make policy makers pay attention to the risks?

The 100 Hours of Astronomy blog is focussing on science this week, as Rick Fienberg looks at the planet Saturn. He explains that it will be well placed in the evening sky for observing during 100HA in early April, but its rings are tilted at an unfavourable angle. You can't have it all.

The UK's Wrexham Chronicle has been outlining a series of IYA2009 activities taking place in that part of the world. The 11th annual Wrexham Science Festival will be tied closely with astronomy themes. All events are free as well, which is no bad thing.

The Sheffield Telegraph is promoting IYA2009 this week, and emphasising local efforts to get the public interested in astronomy. Dark Sky Yorkshire, led by the University of Sheffield, is running a roadshow offering a mix of workshops, cinema presentations, photography talks, and lectures.

Still in the land of fish ‘n' chips and dangerously unhealthy breakfasts, the Whitchurch Herald says that local schools are engaging in activities with a cosmic twist, including using radio telescopes at Jodrell Bank.

To India next, and Express Buzz has a feel-good story about the Kerala State Science and Technology Museum popularising astronomy. They are planning to open astronomy centres across the state. Telescopes are also going to be given to schools, letting pupils explore the night sky for themselves.

Money money money! What's the one thing better than cash? Astronomy-themed cash! That's a theory that the Austrian Mint is putting to the test, report Coin News. Their new €25 coin displays pictures of Galileo and the Moon, among other things. Apparently there is heavy demand for these, so you'd best get a move on if you want one.

If you're a late-comer to IYA2009, fear not as there are others in the same boat as you. Slice of SciFi has a good article which will get you up to speed in no time at all.

Remember that these updates are almost exclusively English-language based. Check local sources and your favourite news aggregator sites as well (e.g.: http://news.google.com), to complement these overviews.